THE MARAROA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19527, 9 July 1925, Page 2

THE MARAROA.

CAUSE OF THE MISHAP. QUESTION OF SURVEY. (Fbom Oca Own Coebespondent.) WELLINGTON, July 8. The Post states that tho Mararoa yesterday brought a record amount of cargo and the largest number of passengers since she commenced running in the Lyttelton ferrv service this winter. In ail, there were 311 'passengers by tho vessel, many having come up from tho south to attend the Wellington Racing Club’s mooting at TVontham. , Prior to tho Mararoa’s departure trom Lyttelton one of the feed pumps was found to bo defective and had to bo repaired. The ship was ready to sail at 8 P-m-j but it was 10.40 p.m. before she was able to get away. Ino engines worked smoothly and gave no trouble until the ship was on the Kaikouras between 6.50 and 7 a.m., when a main bearing became heated owing to a lubricating oil pipe having broken, and the vessel had to be stopped to enable repairs to be effected. The Union Company’s steamer Wingatui, which was on her way up from Lyttelton to Wellington, and which had been passed before the breakdown occurred, caught up on the Mararoa, but as no assistance was required she proceeded on to Wellington without stopping. After some time the engines wore put m working order again, and tho Mararoa continued on her trip to Wellington and reached port without further mishap. Ihe breakdown was thoroughly investigated on the vessel’s arrival at Wellington and effectively repaired, and she sailed at 8.00 last evening on tho return trip to Lyttelton. “After the breakdown,” said a passenger by the vessel to a representative of the Post, “she was listless and didn’t have a kick in her. In spite of the inconvenience caused to tho passengers the majority took the breakdown philosophically, and card parties, etc., wore organised to help to while away the time.” ... The Union Company received advice this morning that no trouble was experiencea with the engines on the run down to Lyttelton last night, tho Mararoa arriving at the southern port in good time this morning. Tho Minister of Marino (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) says ho made inquiries into yesterday’s mishap, and had been advised that a feed pipe to tho crank pin became blocked, with the result that the soft metal bearings ran out. Tho machinery had to be stopped in consequence in order that a spare set of bearings might be fitted. An aocident of the kind was likely to occur at any time to any class of machinery. Mr Anderson added that tho Mararoa was surveyed os late as May last.